Can-opening machine



March Yl, 1949.

Filed March '7, 1947 J. .HRABARCHUK CAN OPENING MACHINE 3 sheets-sheet 1 March 1, 1949. J. HRABARCHUK 2,463,276

CAN OPENING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 hyvexyi'or J. Hrabarchuk March l, 1949.

Filed March 7, 1947 J. HRABARCHUK CAN OPENING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 llyverylor J. Hrabarcbuk Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN -OPENING MACH-INE .ice Hrabarchuk, St. BoniiacaManitoba, Canada Application March 7, 1947, Serial-No. 733;209

3 Claims.

1 In the canning of fruits, vegetables, meats, etc., many of the cans are improperly sealed and these cans have to be 11e-opened and the contents recanned. The cans are usually opened by girls with a small can opener and, as this is a slow process, a large number of girls have to be employed for the purpose.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a power driven machine for opening the cans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which will cut the cans lengthwise and completely in half so that the contents can be quickly removed for the re-canning process.

A further object of the invention is to provide means on the machine forseparating the juices of the contents from the solid matter thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for quickly altering the machine for cutting different sizes of cans.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the machine in a simple and sturdy manner for continuous operation over a long period of time.

With the above important and other minor objects in view which will become more apparent, as the description proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying, drawings in which: l

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View centrally through the machine.

Figure 2 is a partial end View of the lower part of the machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper part of one end of the machine.y

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged profile section taken on the line 5-5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the upper part of the machine with the protecting covers removed.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a supporting plate.

.Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cutting blade.

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective viewof. one of the chain lugs.

In the drawings like characters -of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

A U-shaped angle iron frameV I is supported by four angle iron legs 2 and 3, the lower part of the legs being slightly. off-setV as at 4; The lower part'of the side legs are connected by angle irons 5 which support a plate platform 6. A rectangular angle iron reinforcement I is also provided partly up the legs and supported thereby.

The open end of the U-shaped frame l is` connected byv a cross plate 8.

The upper ends of the legs 2 are provided with bearings which support a cross shaft 9; This shaft carries a pair of sprockets I0, while the far end is, provided with a driving sprocket I'I. The upper ends ofthe angle legs 3 Support a pair of brackets. I2. which slidably carry adjustable bearings I3 operatedby. the screws Ill. The bearings I3 receive across shaftv I5 which carries a. pair of sprocket wheels I6. A pair of endless chains Il connect the sprockets IIJ-and IB. At spaced intervals, the chains are provided with inwardly projecting lugs I8 (best shown inligure 9) which terminate a short distance from each other to provide a space therebetween.

A pair of, U;shaped;straps I9y and'2 are supported from the inner sides of: the frame I. The central parts of these straps support the ends of a pair of lengthwise angles 2|, best shown in Figure 5. On the same straps, and on either side of the angles2I, spacing sleeves 22 arefmounted and support afurther pair of lengthwise angles 23 whichunderlie the upper lengths of the chains II andsupport same in their movement. Av pair of horizontal L-shaped guard plates 24 are fastened to the side angles of the frame I, overlie the lengthwiseangles 2I and 2S,l and are spaced apart to providean inserting space 2-5fthe1'ebetween.

WithY thisarrangement, acylindrical can can be inserted through the inserting spacey 25, betWeena pair of lugs I8 and it will rest lon and between the.- angles -2 I as .indicated in dotted-outline at 26 in Figure 5. If the chains are moving, the lugs will slide the can along; the angles;` ZI.

A supporting; plate 2l is shown in. Figure 7. This-plate isA curvedas at 28;,at-oneendiwhile the opposite yend isprovided withanopening 29 and the sides are turnedup as at 3U. Thefopen ended portion of this plate is received `between the angles 2'I and the U-shaped strap liliextends along the machine and the curved-.end128 passesaround the shaft 9 fora purpose later described.

A. cross shaft 3l is mounted-,in bearings on the upper surfaces of the frame I. By reference tofFigure 4 of the drawings, itwill be seen that one half of the shaft is large asat 32'while the other half is reduced as at 33- to receive a cutting disc 34. Suitable washers-35v are provided on either side of the disc and the assemblyflocked by a nut 36. The shaft isdrivenby-asprocket wheel 3l mounted on `thc-reduced end. A pair of U-shaped brackets.. 38 are supported below and on eitherside ofthe frame I, These brackets support across shaft ..3.9f/Whichgis identical to the shaft 3| but reversed in position and is directly therebelow. This shaft also supports a cutting disc 40 and the reduced end is provided with a thrust collar 4I, while the large end is provided with a sprocket 42. The disc 40 is received in the slot 29 of the supporting plate 21. A V-shaped angle bracket 43 is supported on one side' of the frame I and the upper end provides a bearing for a stub shaft 44. This stub shaft rotatably supports a sprocket wheel 45.

An electric motor 4B is suitably mounted on the plate 6 and drives a worm 41 mounted in a reduction gear casing 48. The worm 41 drives a worm gear 49 which in turn drives a sprocket- 50 on the same shaft. An endless chain 5I passes around the sprocket 59, up over the sprocket 42, around the sprocket 31, over the sprocket 45, then down and around the sprocket II, then back to the sprocket 50. From the above driving connections it will be seen that by operating the motor, the endless chains I1 will be continuously driven by the sprockets I while the cutting discs 34 and 40 will be revolving in opposite directions.

A cutting blade 52 is best shown in Figure 8. One end of this blade is provided with a piercing point 52' while the upper and lower edges are chamiered as indicated at 53. The end, removed from the point, is welded to an angle bar 54, which is bolted to the closed end of the frame I while a cross angle 55 is centrally welded to the upper edge of the blade and the ends of the angle are supported by the sides of the frame I. When this blade is fastened into the frame I as described it will project lengthwise of the machine and centrally of the frame I so that the moving lugs I8 will pass on either side and the cutting discs 34 and 40 will frictionally ride on opposite sides.

On the frame I and between the cross angle 55 and the V-shaped bracket 43, a cross plate 56 is mounted. The central part of one side of this cross plate is dipped upwardly in a curve as shown at 51 for a purpose later described. A U-shaped plate 58 is also mounted between the sides of the frame I and under the angle 55. The cross portion 59 thereof is at a slope so that the plate 58 acts as a chute. A suitably curved canopy 60 encloses the working parts of one end of the machine, a casing 6I encloses the chain I while a further U-shaped casing 62 encloses the sprockets I6 and adjustable bearings. A bar 63 passes across the legs 2 and supports one end of the sloping U-shaped trough 64. The lower end of the trough is supported by the frame 1 In operation, and assuming that the motor has been started and one or two operators` are standing on either side of the machine, the operators will pick up the cans to be opened and will insert them through the inserting space 25 with the sides of the cans horizontal. The cans will drop onto the angles 2l, between the lugs I8, while the lugs will move the cans along the angles to and against the blade v52. The point 52' of the blade will pierce the end of the can and the can will ride up onto the blade, the bladebeing inside the can. As the lugs continue to move the can along the blade, the cutting discs 34 and V4t), in conjunction with the edge of the blade, will cut the sides of the can and the piercing point 52' will then shear the remaining end ofl the can. Accordingly, the can with the contents will fall into two pieces while the juices from the contents will fall through between the angles 2l and be received by the trough 64 and be delivered into a suitable container. The parts of the can will continue along the sides of the blade until they reach the dipped portion of the plate 56 which will deflect them downward. At this time the parts of the can will be riding on the supporting plate 21. After being dipped by the plate 56, the two portions of the can will pass olf the curved end 28 of the supporting plate and be guided by the chute 5B into a suitable receptacle. As the cans have been sheared completely in half it will be a simple matter to separate the contents and the cans for the re-canning process.

When a diierent sized can is to be opened, a

dilTerent sized blade 52 will be required. Accordingly, the bolts holding the blade assembly will be removed and another assembly, having the correct blade, will be substituted.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A can opening machine, comprising: a framework having a pair of spaced endless chains mounted for movement thereon; lugs spacedly carried by said chains and projecting inward toward each other; a pointed blade fastened to said framework, lengthwise to said chains and therebetween; cutting discs mounted on said framework and positioned to ride against the edges of said blade; and means for driving said chains and said cutting discs.

2. A can opening machine, comprising v a frame having a pair of spaced endless chains mounted for movement thereon; lugs carried by said chains in spaced relationship therealong; said lugs projecting inward toward each other; a blade having a shearing pointed end mounted on said frame, lengthwise to said chains and therebetween; shafts mounted on said frame supporting cutting discs which are positioned to ride against the edges of said blade; means for driving said chains and said cutting discs; and guide means for directing cans lengthwise against the point of said blade under pressure from said lugs.

3. A can opening machine, comprising: a framework having a pair of spaced endless chains mounted for vmovement thereon; lugs spacedly carried by said chains and projecting inward toward each other; a pointed blade fastened to said framework, lengthwise to said chains and therebetween; cutting discs mounted on said framework and positioned to ride against the edges of said blade; means for driving said chains, and said cutting discs; means'mounted on said frame to receive cans horizontally and to guide same against the point of said blade under pressure from said lugs for shearing purposes; means for deecting and guiding said sheared cans away from said machine; and trough means for receiving the juices from saidxsheared cans.

JOE HRABARCHUK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name vDate 1,261,368 De Fries Dion Apr. 2, 1918 1,315,340 Scully Sept. 9, 1919 1,325,983 Fogh Dec. 23, 1919 1,334,162 Moltzner Mar. 16, 1920 1,469,398 Street Oct. 2, 1923 1,709,861 Meier Apr. 23, 1929 2,150,735 Williams ,Mar. 14, 1939 

